Lieutenant Hornblower
Ratings26
Average rating3.9
In this gripping tale of turmoil and triumph on the high seas, Horatio Hornblower emerges from his apprenticeship as midshipman to face new responsibilities thrust upon him by the fortunes of war between Napoleon and Spain. Enduring near-mutiny, bloody hand-to-hand combat with Spanish seamen, deck-splintering sea battles, and the violence and horror of life on the fighting ships of the Napoleonic Wars, the young lieutenant distinguishes himself in his first independent command. He also faces an adventure unique in his experience: Maria.
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Series
Series
11 primary booksHornblower Saga: Chronological Order
Hornblower Saga: Chronological Order is a 11-book series with 11 primary works first released in 1920 with contributions by C.S. Forester.
Series
11 primary booksHornblower Saga: Publication Order
Hornblower Saga: Publication Order is a 11-book series with 11 primary works first released in 1920 with contributions by C.S. Forester.
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Popular Reviews
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This book is a mixed bag, in which Hornblower's luck runs back and forth between bad and good. He has his first meeting with Bush, who turns out to be a loyal colleague and friend. But they're both initially subject to the tyranny of an insane captain.
After they get past that, the middle part of the book is mostly relatively cheerful, and Hornblower's career seems to be progressing well; until peace is declared and he finds himself unemployed in dire poverty in England. As the book ends, war is looming again, and his career begins to recover.
It's not a bad book, and it's an essential part of Hornblower's story, but it's not one of my favourites. He meets not only Bush but also Maria in this story; I find Maria rather tiresome, and she remains for the next five books (8 years of his life), mostly but not always offstage.
